Prospect Info: Official 2014 NHL Draft Discussion, Suck for Sam or Play Bad For Ekblad?

[Amazing Kreiderman]

This year's draft sucks. The rangers need to unload at the deadline this year and grab as many 2015 picks as they can. Staal, Callahan, Girardi and Boyle will fetch good picks, maybe even 1sts

I really hope there's a big dose of irony in this

 

[AlternateSideParking]

I really hope there's a big dose of irony in this

What makes what I said ironic?

 

[RangersHank*]

I find it hard to believe will be that bad. No way with the talent we have should we be locked into a top 6 pick. I'm not saying we're the Blackhawks or Pens, but we shouldn't be THIS bad.

Talent? Lol

 

[Raspewtin]

What makes what I said ironic?

Because this draft is supposed to be better than last years.

 

[RangersHank*]

If we do get a top 10 pick, just draft a damn forward please

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

Talent? Lol

Look at our defense (aside from McD and perhaps Stralman) and starting goalie, they've all been bad this season. If they played up to par, we'd be a top 5 seed in all likelihood.

 

[RangersHank*]

Look at our defense (aside from McD and perhaps Stralman) and starting goalie, they've all been bad this season. If they played up to par, we'd be a top 5 seed in all likelihood.

They dont have the talent to play in AVs system. They are playing with no heart

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Because this draft is supposed to be better than last years.

True but where's the irony?

I dont think people understand what ironic means.

 

[Trxjw]

Every year we hear the same thing: This year's draft sucks! But next year's is amazing! There's no way to truly assess a draft until years after it has happened. While this draft might not have the depth of some of 2008, or the "elite 5" of last year, it certainly has plenty of talent that a team would be lucky to get.

Leon Draisaitl is exactly the kind of center this team should be targeting. He's a big, strong playmaker who has elite vision and is masterful at protecting the puck. Watch him shrug kids off of him in the dub. He has a lot of the same qualities that I liked about Johansen and Scheifele. Primarily the size and the ability to win a battle along the boards and instantly turn that into a scoring opportunity. Win the puck, create separation, and generate a scoring chance with a tape-to-tape pass. He's 6'2 and 208lbs already, and I think he projects to be 6'3 and probably close to 220. He's taken a huge step forward this year and I think he could definitely end up in the NHL next fall.

 

[I Eat Crow]

I don't know, there's something about Draisatl that screams bust to me. He may be able to win board battles against 18 and 19 year old kids, but the NHL is another story. His skating is average at best, as well. How his skating develops can be the difference between being a Handzus or a Joe Thornton for him.

 

[Joey Bones]

Every year we hear the same thing: This year's draft sucks! But next year's is amazing! There's no way to truly assess a draft until years after it has happened. While this draft might not have the depth of some of 2008, or the "elite 5" of last year, it certainly has plenty of talent that a team would be lucky to get.

Leon Draisaitl is exactly the kind of center this team should be targeting. He's a big, strong playmaker who has elite vision and is masterful at protecting the puck. Watch him shrug kids off of him in the dub. He has a lot of the same qualities that I liked about Johansen and Scheifele. Primarily the size and the ability to win a battle along the boards and instantly turn that into a scoring opportunity. Win the puck, create separation, and generate a scoring chance with a tape-to-tape pass. He's 6'2 and 208lbs already, and I think he projects to be 6'3 and probably close to 220. He's taken a huge step forward this year and I think he could definitely end up in the NHL next fall.

Agreed. You can never really tell how good a draft is until years later. Well said, however, based on the current positions of the prospects this year IMO isn't as good as last years draft, but it definitely doesn't suck. If we pick somewhere in the top 10 and grab a guy like Dal Colle, Draisaitl, Bennett, Perlini, or have some bit of chance to select Reinhart or Ekblad, I'd be completely satisfied and just an FYI I feel that Ehlers, Kempe, and Pastrnak are going to be some guys that'll turn on the jets sooner rather than later. Can't wait for June!!

 

[AlternateSideParking]

No, the 2014 draft definitely sucks in comparison to the 2015 draft, especially when taking the Rangers' deficiencies in context. The 2014 draft eligible are on the smallish side. After Ritchie, Perlini and Draisaitl you have a ton of smurfs.

I tend to be a little harsh with my words, so saying it "sucks" doesnt mean it wont product talent. It just means that this year's draft 1)has no consensus top pick 2) there is a huge dropoff after the top-15 or so and 3) There isnt one player who you can look at and say "franchise"

2015 is loaded. Look at the Americans alone -- Hanafin, Werenski, Eichel and Greenway. Big, strong imposing kids with skill. Right now there are at least three franchise-type players.

Most GMs are not going to want to part with their 2015 picks and its not just because of McDavid.

 

[Joey Bones]

No, the 2014 draft definitely sucks in comparison to the 2015 draft, especially when taking the Rangers' deficiencies in context. The 2014 draft eligible are on the smallish side. After Ritchie, Perlini and Draisaitl you have a ton of smurfs.

I tend to be a little harsh with my words, so saying it "sucks" doesnt mean it wont product talent. It just means that this year's draft 1)has no consensus top pick 2) there is a huge dropoff after the top-15 or so and 3) There isnt one player who you can look at and say "franchise"

2015 is loaded. Look at the Americans alone -- Hanafin, Werenski, Eichel and Greenway. Big, strong imposing kids with skill. Right now there are at least three franchise-type players.

Most GMs are not going to want to part with their 2015 picks and its not just because of McDavid.

Agreed, 2015 is going to be huge!!

 

[Trxjw]

Again, I've heard the same thing each year about the next draft being great. In 2011 it was "trade for picks in 2012!" and then last year it was "2013 looks so much better!" You can't accurately project a draft a year before it happens. I remember Jake Virtanen was going to be the next stud powerforward prospect. Top-5 guaranteed. Now it looks like he might not even crack the top-10.

It also comes down to how well the scouting staff is prepared to run the draft, not to mention how lucky the team will get. 2004 was one of the worst drafts in recent years, and yet we pulled three solid NHLers out of it. 2003 was one of the greatest drafts we've seen, and we whiffed completely. The top end of this draft might be lacking in "franchise" talent, but it certainly has a number of players who project as top-pairing defenders and top-line forwards.

Regardless, this team isn't going to hunker down and wait for 2015 to roll around.

 

[Trxjw]

I don't know, there's something about Draisatl that screams bust to me. He may be able to win board battles against 18 and 19 year old kids, but the NHL is another story. His skating is average at best, as well. How his skating develops can be the difference between being a Handzus or a Joe Thornton for him.

His skating as an issue is way overblown. His first step and top-speed aren't going to wow anyone, but that's not his game. He's a power center. He out works the other players and I have a hard time seeing that change at the NHL level.

 

[TheRightWay]

No, the 2014 draft definitely sucks in comparison to the 2015 draft, especially when taking the Rangers' deficiencies in context. The 2014 draft eligible are on the smallish side. After Ritchie, Perlini and Draisaitl you have a ton of smurfs.

I tend to be a little harsh with my words, so saying it "sucks" doesnt mean it wont product talent. It just means that this year's draft 1)has no consensus top pick 2) there is a huge dropoff after the top-15 or so and 3) There isnt one player who you can look at and say "franchise"

2015 is loaded. Look at the Americans alone -- Hanafin, Werenski, Eichel and Greenway. Big, strong imposing kids with skill. Right now there are at least three franchise-type players.

Most GMs are not going to want to part with their 2015 picks and its not just because of McDavid.

Other "smurfs" are Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby, Matt Duchene, Jordan Eberle, and Joe Pavelski. All guys who would be a big addition to this team. This isn't basketball. Height means little. Look at how small the Blackhawks are, and yet, they won the Cup last season. This team needs to add some skill before we can start worrying about luxuries like height.

 

[BroadwayBlues]

You can't pick the year to suck. Unless you're a rebuilding team. This team isn't rebuilding. They just signed a 31 y/o goalie to a 7 year deal. Only way the Rangers are picking at the top next year is if Lundqvist sucks again or has a major injury.

If you really love next years draft, the best you can hope for is Sather stock piles picks for next year and trade up.

 

[Whiplash27]

Would I be the only one who would be OK with completely tanking in 2014-15 season?

 

[broadwayblue]

Would I be the only one who would be OK with completely tanking in 2014-15 season?

Do you think the 3rd or 5th overall pick will entirely change this team?

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Other "smurfs" are Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby, Matt Duchene, Jordan Eberle, and Joe Pavelski. All guys who would be a big addition to this team. This isn't basketball. Height means little. Look at how small the Blackhawks are, and yet, they won the Cup last season. This team needs to add some skill before we can start worrying about luxuries like height.

Who in 2014 projects to be Crosby? Duchesne? Kane?

LOL this is not an elite-heavy draft. I'm not pulling this theory out of thin air. Go look at what the scouts are saying.

The Bruins series alone proved the Rangers need size.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

You can't pick the year to suck. Unless you're a rebuilding team. This team isn't rebuilding. They just signed a 31 y/o goalie to a 7 year deal. Only way the Rangers are picking at the top next year is if Lundqvist sucks again or has a major injury.

If you really love next years draft, the best you can hope for is Sather stock piles picks for next year and trade up.

Exactly. They are running the risk of either overpaying Callahan and Girardi for more garbage, or losing them for nothing altogether.

It's going to be very tough to pry 2015 1st rounders, especially from mediocre teams.

Colorado rolled with diced with Varlamov and that pick was 11th overall. For a while we thought the caps would actually draft Yakupov.

I say roll the dice and see what henrik and the rangers can do without Girardi, Staal and Callahan from March to May.

 

[Anthony Mauro]

Who in 2014 projects to be Crosby? Duchesne? Kane?

LOL this is not an elite-heavy draft. I'm not pulling this theory out of thin air. Go look at what the scouts are saying.

The Bruins series alone proved the Rangers need size.

There is no such thing as a weak draft, just weak scouting. Every draft may not produce a generational, but it will always produce top line talent.

I believe those not named Reinhart and Ekblad don't have the brand power as top picks in the past, but will severely outproduce expectations. The top two knowns on the other hand, may have a bit more than they can handle - Ekblad moreso than Reinhart.

 

[Anthony Mauro]

His skating as an issue is way overblown. His first step and top-speed aren't going to wow anyone, but that's not his game. He's a power center. He out works the other players and I have a hard time seeing that change at the NHL level.

An underlying statistic possibly devaluing Draisaitl's draft stock is amount of first round forwards to pan out (or not) from the WHL. Looking into this further as it may not be farfetched considering the Dub is well known for being a factory for rugged, multi-tool defensemen.

 

[Trxjw]

An underlying statistic possibly devaluing Draisaitl's draft stock is amount of first round forwards to pan out (or not) from the WHL. Looking into this further as it may not be farfetched considering the Dub is well known for being a factory for rugged, multi-tool defensemen.

Ya know, I could see a little bit of that sneaking in there. Certainly worked for Ryan Johansen, and the '09 draft was top-heavy with WHL forwards, but I see your point.

 

[Anthony Mauro]

Ya know, I could see a little bit of that sneaking in there. Certainly worked for Ryan Johansen, and the '09 draft was top-heavy with WHL forwards, but I see your point.

It seems as though elite WHL forward talents in both draft year production and skillset pan out (Kane, Johansen, Schenn, RNH), but anyone who has a shred of weakness busts - and busts hard and visibly. This pattern is outstanding.